Bard’s dark classic with a twist at Rugby College

Performing arts students at Rugby College are staging a prdocution of Shakespeare’s Macbeth with an intriguing twist.

In the new adaptation of the classic, Macbeth is played by a female student and the role of Lady Macbeth becomes Lord Lulach, Macbeth’s brother and controller.

The dark play features witchcraft, murder and battle and in preparation for this, the students were instructed in stage combat by an expert tutor.

It also includes elements of physical theatre and Greek chorus.

Leonie Maguire, who is taking the lead role of Macbeth, said: “This play has been a real challenge for us, learning to work with the Shakespearean language and to bring the characters to life.

“It has been a massive learning curve but has given me so much experience as an actor and has been so much fun to do.

“I can’t wait for people to see the end result.”

The play is an assessed performance as part of the University of Arts London (UAL) Level 3 Diploma in Performing Arts, one of the courses currently available at Rugby College - other courses include UAL Level 2 Diploma in Performing Arts and a Foundation Degree which was launched in September.

Macbeth runs from Tuesday, March 21 to Thursday, March 23 at Platform Theatre at Rugby College at 7pm.

Tickets cost £7.50 (£5 concessions) and can be bought online at shop.warwickshire.ac.uk.

For further information on the play telephone (01788) 863058.

For more information on courses, call 0300 456 0049 or go to www.wcg.ac.uk.